Petunia plant named ‘Dopetsuspapu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Dopetsuspapu’, characterized by its relatively compact, upright and mounding to hanging plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large reddish purple-colored flowers with random white-colored spots; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPETSUSPAPU’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Dümmen Group B.V. of De Lier,The Netherlands on Aug. 19, 2020, application number 2020/1953. Foreignpriority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orApplicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior artexception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior tothe filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filingdate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petuniaplant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘Dopetsuspapu’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact, freely branching andearly-flowering Petunia plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in July, 2017 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selectionof Petunia X hybrida identified as code number TT-0955, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia Xhybrida identified as code number TT16-107103-005, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2020.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal vegetativecuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germanysince June, 2020 has shown that the unique features of this new Petuniaplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Dopetsuspapu’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Dopetsuspapu’ as a new and distinct Petuniaplant:

-   -   1. Relatively compact, upright and mounding to hanging plant        habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Large reddish purple-colored flowers with random        white-colored spots.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the female parent selection in flower color asflowers of plants of the new Petunia are reddish purple in color withrandom white-colored spots whereas flowers of plants of the femaleparent selection are pink in color.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differprimarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color asflowers of plants of the new Petunia are reddish purple in color withrandom white-colored spots whereas flowers of plants of the male parentselection are reddish purple in color without spots.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of Petunia X hybrida‘KLEPH15313’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,237. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Petunia and ‘KLEPH15313’ differ primarilyin the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are not as broad as plants of        ‘KLEPH15313’.    -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of        ‘KLEPH15313’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Petunia are reddish purple in        color with random white-colored spots whereas flowers of plants        of ‘KLEPH15313’ are violet in color with random white-colored        spots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Petunia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘Dopetsuspapu’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Dopetsuspapu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the spring in 22-cm containersin a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Petunia production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were twelve weeks old when thephotographs were taken and 25 weeks old when the description was taken.In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, 2007, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘Dopetsuspapu’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number TT-0955, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X            hybrida identified as code number TT16-107103-005, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 155B in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Relatively compact, upright and            mounding to hanging plant habit; freely branching habit with            about five primary lateral branches each with about twelve            secondary branches developing after pinching; moderately            vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 23            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 25            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 73 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 60 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 4 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1.5 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.        -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; semi-glossy.        -   Color, developing and developed.—Close to 144A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,            opposite; simple.        -   Length.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Spatulate.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;            leathery; semi-glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 144A; venation, close to 144B. Fully expanded            leaves, lower surface: Close to 145A; venation, close to            144B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1.2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong; firm. Texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper            and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers            arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually            about 450 flowers and flower buds developing per plant;            flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during            the spring and summer in Germany; early flowering habit,            plants typically beginning flowering about nine weeks after            planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about two to three            days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4.2 cm. Diameter: About 5.5 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Rippled; semi-glossy.            Color: Close to 83B and 145B.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 6.2 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 1.1 cm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 3.3 cm.        -   Flower tube diameter, proximally.—About 2 mm.        -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and            opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from            throat): About 3.1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 3.3 cm. Petal            shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin:            Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Rippled, glabrous; semi-glossy. Throat            texture and luster: Rippled, glabrous; semi-glossy. Tube            texture and luster: Rippled, pubescent; semi-glossy. Color:            Petal lobe, when opening, upper surface: Close to 79B with            random spots, close to NN155D. Petal lobe, when opening,            lower surface: Close to 79C with random spots, close to            NN155D. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper surface: Close to            N78A with random spots, close to NN155D; venation, close to            N79A; main color becoming closer to N88A with subsequent            development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface: Close            to 77A with random spots, close to NN155D; venation, close            to N79A; main color becoming closer to N88B with subsequent            development. Flower throat: Close to 83A; venation, close to            N79A. Flower tube: Close to 83A; venation, close to N79A.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused at the base forming a            tubular star-shaped calyx. Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter:            About 2 mm. Shape: Oblong. Apex: Rounded. Base: Decurrent.            Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: When opening            and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 146A. When opening            and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,            glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.            Filament length: About 2.1 cm. Filament color: Close to            157D. Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Ovate.            Anther color: Close to 158D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen            color: Close to 158B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 2.6 cm. Style length: About 2.1 cm.            Style color: Close to 144D. Stigma diameter: About 2 mm.            Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 144C. Ovary            color: Close to 144B. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant:            About 90 during the flowering season. Length: About 6 mm.            Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Close to 161C. Seeds: Quantity per flower: About 150.            Length: About 0.2 mm. Diameter: About 0.2 mm. Texture:            Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 200C.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain, temperatures    ranging from about 5° C. to about 40° C. and to be suitable for USDA    Hardiness Zone 11.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Petunia have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Petunia plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Dopetsuspapu’as illustrated and described.